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Are you ready for the Odfrank overwintering challenge?

We've had to listen to Jolly Ollie brag all year about all the swarms he's caught so let's see how well he does at keeping them alive all winter.

We'll go by number of hives lost beginning October 1, 2012 thru March 1, 2013. Check in with the number of hives you have as of October 1st. if you want to participate so get done with all your combines and such before then.

Ollie may be old, bald and cheap but he's as honest as they come so we'll go by the honor system like we did the swarm challenge. Last I heard, Ollie had 60 hives. Is that right Ollie?

Re: Are you ready for the Odfrank overwintering challenge?

I'm glad you are starting this 10/1 because I already lost a few in August that I now won't have to count. The crawlers are out in full force so the fun begins. That is probably a good starting date because I caught a swarm in September last year.

Re: Are you ready for the Odfrank overwintering challenge?

We don't have to debate treatment VS non-treatment, just declare what category we are in. That information might swing me back into treating or indicate that treating is not working for some. I quit using apistan because my bees still died. If I hear the people using some of the more recently available treatments are getting great over wintering success, I might want to start trying them. I am not a competitive person, I just want to learn what can improve my overwintering success and what exactly is killing my bees.

Re: Are you ready for the Odfrank overwintering challenge?

Originally Posted by odfrank

We don't have to debate treatment VS non-treatment, just declare what category we are in. That information might swing me back into treating or indicate that treating is not working for some. I quit using apistan because my bees still died. If I hear the people using some of the more recently available treatments are getting great over wintering success, I might want to start trying them. I am not a competitive person, I just want to learn what can improve my overwintering success and what exactly is killing my bees.

Alright fine, since the challenge is in your name. Everyone check in with your number of hives and your treatment category. No debate on what the definition of treatment free is. Just state if you treat or not according to your own personal definition that you keep to yourself.

Re: Are you ready for the Odfrank overwintering challenge?

Count me in!! Rolling in with 15 & hopefully rolling into the spring with 15. One (cutout) will be sitting on my first attempted use of a double screened bottom board to share the warmth. Are grease patties considered a treatment?, I would think not, but I will be putting those on in a few weeks.

Re: Are you ready for the Odfrank overwintering challenge?

I can split in October and maybe again in February how do I count that?
I guess that my "Winter" is only 6-8 weeks. What is winter defined as? Any week you can't wear shorts for 3 or more days?

Should we be discussing treatment free in this section of the forum?

The winter time frame for the purposes of this challenge is October 1, 2012 to March 1, 2013.

This is an overwintering thread, not a treatment thread. You can say you're treatment free but we shouldn't have discussions about it other than that. Please don't ask if any part of what you do in beekeeping is treatment free. There are other forums for that.